[bestbits] Re: [governance] Input on IGF 2014 format and main sessions

[Adam Peake]

Hi Anriette,

Thanks for asking.  

To be honest, I'm not very clear what the difference is between main sessions and focus sessions -- what was the actual difference in Bali?   

Perhaps the Secretariat and MAG needs to do a better job of bringing the organizers of the various workshops into planning of the focus sessions.  That didn't work well last, mainly I think because we hadn't thought through a new process (and to be honest I don't think 'feeder workshops' have ever worked and are unlikely to, a conference schedule can't permit.)

I think we saw in Bali that topics on current interests work well.  Development, tried yet again, and not satisfactory yet again (if going to do such sessions it must include a majority of developing country participants, and contributors who are development experts rather than well meaning policy geeks.)

Did ypu find the policy questions helpful?  Were they addressed in the sessions and did they add anything?  I'm not sure they were widely used in most sessions.  They seemed to be used as a bit of an after thought.  

Of the themes, suggest it would be helpful to leave a large block of time (50%) to address NETmundial outcomes and what we are learning from other processes.  By mid-summer we'll have an idea of what's going into ITU plenipot, WSIS etc.  React to what's happening rather than more on the same old themes.

What does the overarching theme mean?  Too many vague sub-themes, they provide little or no guidance to those submitting workshop proposals, and no help to MAG when assessing what's relevant/not.

Adam  



On Mar 18, 2014, at 3:24 AM, Anriette Esterhuysen wrote:

> Dear all
> 
> There is a MAG meeting tomorrow and I would like your input on session formats.
> 
> Should there be 'main sessions' or focus sessions?  How many? One a day or only on the first day and the last day?
> 
> What should the format be of these sessions?
> 
> Should there be feeder workshops? Or Round Tables on a theme?
> 
> Should the MAG make an open call for policy questions around which these focus/main sessions can be built?
> 
> Looking at the main and sub themes for this year's IGF, on which topics do you feel main sessions/focus sessions are needed?
> 
> 
> Proposed Overaching Theme and Sub Themes for IGF 2014
> 
>  
> Proposed Overarching Theme: Connecting Continents for Enhanced Multistakeholder Internet Governance
> 
> Proposed Sub Themes:
> 
> 	• Policies enabling Access
> 	• Content Creation, Dissemination and Use
> 	• Internet as engine for growth & development
> 	• IGF & The Future of the Internet ecosystem
> 	• Enhancing Digital Trust
> 	• Internet and Human Rights
> 	• Critical Internet Resources
> 	• Emerging Issues
>  
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Anriette
> -- 
> ------------------------------------------------------
> anriette esterhuysen 
> anriette at apc.org
> 
> executive director, association for progressive communications
> 
> www.apc.org
> 
> po box 29755, melville 2109
> south africa
> tel/fax +27 11 726 1692
> 
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